Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest storage reservoirs on the Colorado River, closed at 48 and 47% full respectively in June. Add in other impoundments and the total system is 52% full according to the federal Bureau of Reclamation.

But enough about the Colorado River and the worrying state of its big drinks. This holiday week, let’s look at the Pacific Northwest. To read about a city that is up to some ingenious new forms of storm water harvesting that do double duty of irrigating an urban park while protecting the Puget Sound, check out this Orion Magazine feature by Cynthia Barnett on Seattle’s Growing Vine Street project.